Expansion of Medicaid Coverage for Direct Services
September 8, 2010
MO HealthNet Division (MHD) has expanded Medicaid coverage for direct services provided to eligible students as part of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Reimbursable school-based services will now include hearing aid services (audiology), personal care services, private duty nursing, and psychology/counseling services.
“This is an impor tant opportunity for Missouri school districts,” said Alex Brecher, COO, Accelify. “These are medically necessary services that schools are already providing to their students, and being able to recoup some of the costs will bring in crucial dollars to districts’ budgets. In fact, in other states that have also expanded Medicaid coverage to these services, our client districts have seen their reimbursements go up by 40 to 60 percent.”
School districts are required by law to provide medically necessary services to students. Some of these services, when prescribed in a Medicaid-eligible student’s IEP, can be billed to Medicaid on a fee-for-service basis. Until now, the services covered by MHD were occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy services.
Many special education students, however, have disabilities that require services not included under these three therapy programs, which means that districts have been providing the additional services without any financial help. MHD’s decision to expand coverage to include audiology, personal care services, private duty nursing, and psychology/counseling services is a major win for the education community, and makes this an ideal time for districts to explore the benefits of participating in the Medicaid reimbursement program. For many districts already participating in the program, this decision means substantial increases in reimbursements.
About Accelify, LLC:
Accelify is one of the largest and fastest growing school-based Medicaid billing agents in the country, currently serving hundreds of school districts and local education agencies nationwide. The company’s core business is providing intuitive technology solutions and comprehensive services to ensure that schools make the most of the fee–for –service and Medicaid administrative claiming programs. Accelify has more than 20 years of experience with school–based Medicaid, and it shows. The company’s focus is on improving participation, enhancing regulatory compliance, reducing workloads for district staff, and driving reimbursement increases. Based in New York, Accelify also has regional offices in several states to provide on–site service to its client districts. Accelify is endorsed by a number of state school board associations and other educational associations for its people, technologies, processes, and training.
For more information about Accelify, please contact:
Linda A. Kirkpatrick
Missouri State Coordinator
Accelify, LLC & ;nbsp;
Phone: 913-706-3632
Email lakirkpatrick@accelify.com
Derek J. Abraham
VP of Field Operations
Accelify, LLC
Phone: 888-204-4987 x223
Email: djabraham@accelify.com